I, Tonya-2017

Director Craig Gillespie

Starring Margot Robbie, Allison Janney

Scott’s Review #712

Reviewed January 10, 2018

Grade: A-

I, Tonya is a 2017 biopic telling the life and times of the infamous American Olympic figure skater, Tonya Harding, notorious, of course, for her alleged involvement, along with her husband and his friend, in the attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan during the 1994 Winter Olympics.

The event drew monumental media coverage after the attack, with the uncertainty of Harding’s knowledge or involvement, and her subsequent guilt or innocence continues to be debated.

The film is a dark, violent comedy that never takes itself too seriously. It immediately presents a disclaimer that the film’s stated “facts” are open to interpretation and depend on who you ask.

I, Tonya isn’t preachy or directive to the viewer; instead, it offers the skater’s life and times in story form.

The film features tremendous performances by Margot Robbie and Allison Janney as Tonya and her despicable mother, LaVona.

I, Tonya, is told chronologically, culminating in “the incident” in 1994.

However, the story begins in the mid-1970s, as Tonya, just a tot at the tender age of four, is as cute as a button and shrouded in innocence.

One cannot help but wonder whether director Craig Gillespie, known for independent films, made this wise casting choice on purpose.

We see Tonya, once an innocent child, journey into a life of violence, abuse, and tumultuous living. Harding grew up cold and hard and endured an abusive, complex relationship with her mother; the pressures to be the best skater never ended.

Even upon achieving success, Tonya never felt good enough or loved by her mother.

We then experience Tonya as a fifteen-year-old girl, fittingly first meeting her boyfriend and later husband, Jeff Gillooly, played by actor Sebastian Stan.

The early scenes between the two are sweet, tender, and fraught with the emotions of first love.

As explained by the actors, this was a short-lived time of bliss, and the relationship soon disintegrated into abuse, rage, and chaos.

The main point is to debate Harding’s guilt or innocence, which Gillespie peppers throughout, so it is unclear what to believe or how the audience should think.

“Interpretation” is the key here. Some may see Harding as a victim of life’s circumstances and the hardships she had to endure, and may feel sympathy for her.

Others may view Harding as off-putting, potty-mouthed, and even icy and violent herself, with a big chip on her shoulder.

In one scene, she publicly belittles the hoity-toity judges who never give her a break and give her less-than-perfect scores.

A clever technique the film uses is to have the actors frequently speak to the camera, and thus to the audience.

This is achieved through an interview style or by having the action stop and Robbie, Janney, Stan, or whoever turn to the camera and share their version of events.

I, Tonya possesses a creative, edgy, indie feel.

How brilliant are the performances of both Robbie and Janney?

Robbie, a gorgeous woman, portrays a “red-neck” to a T. Through her bright blue eyes, her face is quite expressive—relaying pain, anger, and a seldom triumph.

The film often tips the scales in a sympathetic way towards Harding’s favor, but it is Robbie’s talents that make us feel that sympathy.

Janney hits the jackpot with a delicious role she sinks her teeth into. A cold-hearted, vicious character; through facial expressions, we occasionally glimpse LaVona softening, but as we do, she does something even more despicable.

A nice surprise for fans who remember the real-life events: the real-life players will be treated to a sequence of the real-life Tonya, LaVona, Jeff, and Shawn Eckhardt, which plays over the film’s ending credits.

How similar in looks are Robbie to Harding, with her feathered, frizzy, 1980s-style hairdo, and Janney, a dead-ringer for the boozy, chain-smoking LaVona, with her mousy brown bob haircut, complete with scruffy bangs?

Viewers will leave theaters confused, unsure, or perhaps perplexed by what they just saw, but they will most certainly feel thoroughly entertained and may even depart chanting upbeat 1980s rock tunes the film uses throughout.

Thanks to fantastic acting and a strong story, I, Tonya, is a success.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Actress-Margot Robbie, Best Supporting Actress-Allison Janney (won), Best Film Editing

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 2 wins-Best Actress-Margot Robbie, Best Supporting Female-Allison Janney (won), Best Editing (won)